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All persons concerned are given advice regarding personal
and general hygiene. It has been proved that the simple act
of hand-washing after using the W.C. can be of utmost importance
in preventing the spread of sonne. The Public Health
Inspectors take every opportunity of emphasizing this fact to
members of the general public, and especially those concerned
with food handling and the care of young children. Measures
such as these tend to decrease the spread of the disease and
also act as an education in personal hygiene.
Measles.
There were 258 cases of measles notified during 1959 compared
with 200 in 1958. Generally speaking the illness was of
a mild type with little "by way of complications and all caseswere
nursed at home. The majority of the illnesses (130)
occurred in children in the 0/5 age group, and (120) in the
5/10 age group.
Whooping Cough.
During 1959, only 3 cases of whooping cough were notified
compared with 9 in 1958.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
No cases of ophthalmia neonatorum occurred during 1959»
Puerperal Pyrexia.
The maternity block at Kingston hospital serves Kingston
and a large surrounding area embracing a population of some
285,000 persons. During 1959, 1,669 deliveries took place in
the hospital, and inevitably some cases of puerperal pyrexia
occurred, all of which were notified to the Medical Officer of
Health of Kingston in accordance with the regulations which
define the illness as a febrile condition occurring in a woman
in whom a temperature of 100,4°F or more has occurred within
fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage.
During 1959, 72 cases were notified, 24 of which referred
to Kingston residents, and 70 of whom were notified from
Kingston hospital. These figures compare with 60, 18 and 60
respectively for 1958.